The Most Common Learning Disorders, Explained

For many years, children and adults with learning disorders were considered 'slow' or unsuited to schoolwork. Over time, the medical community realized the truth: certain individuals have medical conditions that make it more difficult for them to retain or process information. Individuals with learning disorders tend to struggle in school or certain occupations. These disorders can make it difficult for those suffering to complete tasks that many individuals find simple. The effects of learning disorders can range from difficulty in reading and writing to trouble with numbers to problems with speech and movement.

Dyslexia

By far the most common learning disorder is dyslexia, which is a disorder related to reading written or printed words. Patients who are dyslexic struggle with the process of translating the words on a page (or any other writing) into the corresponding sounds. Dyslexia patients account for around eighty to ninety percent of individuals with learning disabilities, and around twenty percent of the population is dyslexic to some degree.

It should be noted dyslexia does not represent a lack of intelligence. In fact, the specific definition is a person whose general intelligence level would allow them to read at a much higher level than they’re able to. Dyslexic individuals tend to be very slow readers, yet are often very gifted when it comes to creative thinking and reasoning tasks. Being dyslexic is a lifelong condition, but it doesn’t stop individuals from having highly successful careers and lives.

Dysphasia Or Aphasia

Dysphasia is a condition in which a person has difficulty speaking or understanding spoken words, or perhaps both. There are several forms of dysphasia, with different symptoms and characteristics. In some forms of dysphasia, the patient struggles to speak but can speak, and can generally understand speech. In other forms, the person is completely unable to speak. In still others, the patient is unable to either speak or understand spoken words.

Aphasia is a term for the same condition and is often used interchangeably with dysphasia. Some use aphasia to mean a more severe form of dysphasia in which an individual is unable to speak at all. Currently, in the United States, the term aphasia is more favored, and dysphasia is used more elsewhere in the world. In most contexts, dysphasia or aphasia would be understood to refer to the same condition. Dysphasia is usually caused by some form of brain trauma, such as a blow to the head, stroke, or another sudden event.

Dyscalculia

Some individuals struggle more than other with mathematics for a variety of reasons. One of these reasons is the condition dyscalculia, which refers to an inability to process math and numbers well. This can run the range from difficulty ordering numbers correctly to difficulty solving math-based problems. Individuals suffering from this condition will often have trouble with basic math and counting. This difficulty may extend to math-adjacent subjects like telling time, dealing with dates, and estimating things.

Dyscalculia appears to run in families, which suggests there is a genetic component to it. However, scientists have been unable to isolate any gene or genetic marker corresponding to this condition. Therefore, further research will be required to determine precisely what causes dyscalculia. There’s no known cure, as it is a lifelong condition.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a learning disorder that causes patients to struggle with writing. It’s a motor skills disorder, and those who have it struggle to control their hands when attempting to write. Individuals with the condition tend to write very slowly and will often have inconsistent writing styles. The slanting and angles of letters will be irregular, and patients will have difficulties writing in both print and cursive.

The exact cause of dysgraphia is currently not well known. There’s some evidence it can be caused by brain trauma later in life among adults. However, dysgraphia has also found in children where no trauma has been observed. In those cases, children with this condition also tend to be dyslexic or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other learning disorders. It should be noted many children struggle with penmanship and writing early in their lives without suffering from dysgraphia. The extent and duration of a child’s struggle with writing determine whether the condition is present or not.

Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a condition in which the patient struggles with motor planning and function. This can range from basic motor functions like waving hello to more complicated sequences like tying shoes or brushing teeth. Dyspraxia tends to be diagnosed first in children, and the condition persists throughout the sufferer’s life. Symptoms can vary depending on the stage of life the patient is in. As an infant, the patient may struggle to stand, sit, or perform other simple functions.

As a child, many school and learning-related activities will be more difficult, as will playing most games. In adulthood, an individual with dyspraxia may appear to move slowly, have bad posture, or have poor coordination. It’s unknown what exactly causes dyspraxia, though scientists believe a lack of development in neurons plays a role. A hereditary link causing the disorder has received some incompletely supporting evidence in the scientific community.